Louis Kahn

He married his first wife, Esther, in 1930 and they had one daughter.

He then had a relationship with Anne Tyng, with whom he was working. The duo has a daughter, Alexandra Tyng.

He also had a son with a woman called Harriet Pattison.

Louis Isadore Kahn was born as Itze-Leib Schmuilowskyin a poor Jewish family in Parnu, Estonia. He was raised in Kuressaare in Saaremaa, which was then a part of the Livonian Governorate.

In 1906, his family transferred to the United States. Because of their poor financial conditions, they could not even afford pencils. As such, they burned twigs in order to make money through Louis' drawings.

He later played the piano to supplement silent movies in cinemas. He became an established citizen in 1914 and the next year, he adopted the name 'Kahn'.

He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his Bachelor of Architecture in 1924.

Right after his graduation, he worked as a senior designer in the office of the City Architect, John Molitor.

He toured Europe in the late 20s and by 1929 he returned to the United States and worked in the agencies of Paul Philippe Cret and with Zantzinger, Borie and Medary, in Philadelphia.

He co-founded the Architectural Research Group in 1932 with Dominique Berninger. Among the assignments that he worked on during this period were unbuilt systems for public accommodation that he had presented to the Public Works Administration.

Through the 30s, he worked with George Howe on a number of ventures for the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

In the 40s, he worked together with Oscar Stonorov for the policy of housing enlargements in Philadelphia. He began to teach at Yale University in 1947.

The 'Jatiyo Sangshad Bhaban' in Dhaka, Bangladesh, is considered his magnum opus. It took him twelve years to complete this magnificent edifice, starting from 1962 and ending in 1974. It still remains as one of the most important buildings in Bangladesh. Commissioned by Muzharul Islam, he designed this building with the help of his students at Yale University. The building, one of his largest works, includes dining halls, hostels, a hospital and the main Parliament building itself.